Apparatus for erecting elevated structures



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APPARATUS FOR ERECTING ELEVATED STRUCTURES I Original Filed June 16, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 United States Patent APPARATUS FOR ERECTING ELEVATED STRUCTURES Clarence W. Hines, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Chicago Bridge & Iron Company, a corporation of Illinois Original application June 16, 1949, Serial No. 99,507. Divided and this application October 29, 1952, Serial No. 318,140

2 Claims. (Cl. 212-58) This invention relates to apparatus for the erection of elevated structures and more particularly to apparatus for the erection of elevated storage tanks.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 99,507, filed June 16, 1949.

The apparatus is particularly adaptable for use in the erection of column supported elevated tanks.

The usual method of erecting tanks of the type described employs the use of a guyed gin pole for the erection of the tubular column and either a guyed gin pole or a guyed derrick for the erection of the tank itself. In such methods, one or more guy lines extend laterally from the top of the gin pole or derrick to points at some distance from the structure at which points they are anchored into the ground, tied to large trees, or secured to some other substantial anchorage.

Guy lines are an objectionable adjunct to erection equipment for the following reasons. The points of anchorage are often difficult to establish because they must be located at a considerable distance from the tank itself and most often on property owned by others. Anchorage for elevated tanks require holes in the ground of substantial proportions and when a water tank is to be located in a residential district the necessity of spotting such an anchor in a private owners lawn or garden creates problems. There are also objections. to having guy lines passing over house tops and through the branches of valuable trees. In congested areas where buildings, streets, sidewalks and driveways solidly occupy the space desired for guy line anchors, the problem is especially diflicult. A body of water or a river adjacent one or more sides of the tank precludes the use of guy lines in that direction and special very expensive methods must be used instead. Soft and swampy grounds likewise present problems of obtaining secure anchorage. The proximity of high tension electric power lines creates additional hazards in handling the guy lines over and under such lines. Electrocutions through the accidental contact of a guy line and an electric line are constantly to be feared and it becomes necessary to shut off the power during critical moments when guy lines are being moved.

In using the ordinary methods for erecting a tank the gin pole or derrick must he jumped upward to succeeding points of elevation as the work progresses. Jumping requires careful manipulation of the guy lines to keep the top end of the pole or derrick securely balanced and at the same time pay out on each guy just enough to keep pace with the hoisting of the derrick itself. This is a critical operation which requires skill and great care.

Occasionally, for the erection of small storage tanks to be supported on three or more columns, a basket pole may be used. This device requires no guy lines outside of the structure itself. The basket pole is a single gin pole type member used in the center of, the structure with the bottom end supported in a pendant which hangs from the. panel points of the tower and the top end is supported by adjustable guy lines whose lower ends are 2,754,012 Patented July 10, 1956 secured to the same panel points. This method is limited to the construction of comparatively small tanks having a capacity of less than 300,000 gallons and obviously cannot be used for the erection of larger structures.

I have invented and am herein disclosing and claiming apparatus to be used in the construction of elevated structures such as storage tanks of any size. My apparatus does not require guy lines which extend beyond the structure itself. By the use of my apparatus it is now possible to erect elevated tanks on any site large enough for the structure itself and without interfering with or utilizing adjacent areas during the construction.

The apparatus will be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged detail view of a rotatable boom support;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view, partly broken away, of that part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section along line 44 of Fig.3 showing a portion of the device of Fig. 3;

Figs. 5 to 8 are views showing the steps of erecting a column according to another aspect of the invention;

Figs. 9 and 10 are views showing the continuation of the steps of views 58 including the erection of supporting pillars and the tank proper;

Fig. 11 is a view illustrating the manner in which the boom support is removed from the interior of the tank;

Fig. 12 is a horizontal section along line 1212 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged detailed view of the supporting structure for the erecting device shown in Figs. 58;

Figs. 14 and 15 are horizontal sections along lines 14-14 and 15-15, respectively, of Fig. 13; and

Fig. 16 is a side elevation of a column section showing the means for attaching the supporting device of Fig. 13 thereto.

The tank construction method for employing the presently disclosed equipment, utilizes the central column, after it is erected, as a support for a derrick. An important part of this derrick is the rotatable boom support illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4.

' The boom support 65 includes a main frame 73 which is securely bolted or otherwise fastened to non-rotating sections 56 and 57 of the supporting column. A collar 74 surrounds the frame and carries the boom 68. The collar is mounted for rotation about the frame on horizontal anti-friction bearings 75 and vertical anti-friction bearings 76. The bearings are designed to take the thrust of the bom which will vary from horizontal to vertical depending upon the position of the boom. The collar is in the form of an angle iron having a vertical edge 77 which serves as a bearing race for the vertical rollers and a horizontal leg 78 serving as a bearing race for the horizontal bearings. The collar is reinforced by gusset plates 79 extending between the vertical and horizontal legs and is provided with a channel member 80 to act as a bull wheel for turning the derrick with power. The collar and frame are divided into three sections, 81, 82 and 83, which sections are secured to adjacent sections of each member by means of bolts. After the completion of the access tube, a first section such as the section 83 may be removed and replaced with a corresponding cylindrical section of the access tube. The replacement section is welded to the access tube and to the top of the transition section 56 whereupon a second section such as the section 82 may be removed and replaced with a cylindrical section. The final section 81 may then be removed from position and a final replacement section welded to the access tube and to the reinforcing section to complete the access tube. Thus, it is possible to remove the boom support without the necessity for providice j be made up in a singlepiece.

passed to secure the mast to the support. Istraps24 extend outwardly from the member 21' near one end thereof and a similar pair of straps 25extend .openings 33 and 34 therein.

ing support for the access tube during the removal operations.

If so desired, the rotatable support for the boom may To remove such a boom support, the access tube 57 is supported bythe tank proper,

I as by braces and joists, and the boomsupport removed as a whole. A replacement section maythenbewelded to place in the space vacated by the boom support, ,such

.- a replacement section being preferably in the form of two halves of a cylindrical section. Each half is then welded to the access tube 57, the section 56, and to the other half.

The tank construction method for employingthe vpresently disclosed equipment, utilizes the central column of the tank as a support for the erection. devices. The

. column itself may be raised by hoisting apparatus secured cific example of this equipment and its'use isaillustrated in Figs. 5 to16.

In Fig. 13, I show a .removable support adapted to be;temporarily secured to the central column 18 of an .elevated water tank. The support 20 consists of a tubular member. 21 through which extends a mast 22. t The member. 21 is. provided with holes matching corresponding holes in the mast 22 through which bolts 23 may be Apair of outwardly from the other end of the member 21. Secured to'the outer ends of each of the straps by means of hinges 26 are apertured plates 27, each of the plates being provided with an opening 28 therein to receive an apertured lug.29 welded to the column 18. Pins 30 may be passed through the holes in the lugs 29 to secure the member 21 to the column. To prevent side sway in the support 20, angle irons 31 are bolted or otherwise secured between each pair of legs 24 and 25-and toeach angle iron 31 there is secured a curved steel fastening. device 32, the device being so curved as to provide a pairof The intervening portions of the device 32 are welded or otherwise secured to the angle iron 31. The openings 33 and 34 are adapted to-register with similar openings formed in a corresponding fastening device 35 welded to the column 18. The device'35 is also curved at 36 and 37 to provide apertures matching the openings 33 and 34 and to receive pinspassing-through each pair of matched openings.

. Secured around the lower portion of the -me'mber 21 is a platform 38 provided with a guard 39 which platform is of suflicient size to permit a man to stand thereon and perform the various functions to secure and remove the member 21 to the column 18.

Secured to the side of the member 21 adjacent its lower end is asheave 40 adapted toreceive acable'41 passing thereover-and. thence downwardly around another sheave 42 secured to the bottom ofthe mast 22. Thecable then passes upwardly and is secured to a fitting 43 at the upper end of the member 21.

Also a part of the support 20 is a second tubulanmember 44 adapted to receive the mast 22 therethrough and provided with straps 45 similar to the straps 24, -each strap being provided with a hinge 46 at its outer end and secured to an apertured plate 47. The aperture in the plates 47 are adapted to receive apertured lugs48therethrough, the lugs being welded to the column 18. A pin 49 may be inserted through the lug 48 to secure the'plate vided on the member 44 to hold that member against side sway; The lower end of the tubular member 44 is providedwith a flange 51 adapted to-rest againsfthccorresponding flange 52 provided on the upper end of the 'metnberlf. The member 44 is also provided with a second flange 53 adjacent its upper end against which a pin or bolt 54 extending through an opening 55 in the 5 mast 22 may rest to secure the mast against vertical movement when supported solely by the member 44 as hereinafter described.

As shown in Fig. 5 a derrick 69 in the form of a boom and a rotatable support therefor is secured to the upper wend'of the mast'22.

The operation of the device just described is as follows:

Withihemembers 21 and.44 secured to the column 18 by the means described, the derrick may be employed to lift a second column section 61 to the position shown in Fig. 5. The derrick may then be rotated on the mast 22 to swing the section 61 into position over ..1the,section118 in which position it may be secured: thereto.';:. The cableof the derrick is then secured to a fitting 62 attached to the -member.4.4 and the fastening devices which'secure that member to the column 18 are removed.

The member.44- is then liftedupwardly by means of the mlderrick tothe position shown in Fig. 6 where it is secured to the upper portion of thecolumn 61 by means of pins throughaperturedlugs then provided on the upper part of the column 61. The mast may be then secured to the-member. 44 by means of the pin and aperture de- -vice 5455 previously described. The cable on the '--de'r-rick is then released from the fitting 62 and secured -10 afitting.63- attached to the member 21. Bolt 23 is a then withdrawn and the various pins which secure the member 21 to the column 18 are removed and the derrick employed to liftthe member 21 to the position shown -in Pig. 7 wherein it may be secured to the top of the column 61. By removing the pin 54 which secures the ---mast to'the member 44 and by pulling on the cable 41, the" mast'is then slid upwardly through the members 21 and 44 until it reaches the position relative thereto which *it had previously occupied and which is illustrated in Fig.

40 5 whereuponthe bolt 23 and the pin 54 may be reinserted -"and the'mast and derrick are then ready for use to hoist another column section into position. Succeeding colyumn sections-may be elevated in position by moving the 's upportsjmast and derrick upwardly as just described.

45 "When, the final column section 64 is secured in position a and'thesupport 20 moved to the top thereof as shown infFig l 8, a rotatable support 65 for a boom may be "I hoistedinto position and secured to the top of the'column "64'. Afltubular section 66 is then hoisted into position 511 andl ;secured to the support 65. The section 66 is providedwith a rotatable tripod 67 providing a rotatable masthead. A boom 68 andboom falls 69 are then sej cured to the members 65 and 67 to provide a derrick 70 at theto'p of the column. The derrick 70 is then employed 55f to'l'owerj the mast22, its derrick 60, and the supports 21 and'44to the ground.

' As shown iniFig. 9, the derrick 70 is employed to hoist the peripheral supporting columns 71 into final position. -The columns 71 are secured to the central column 18 of 0f the tank by means of ties 72. I prefer to secure the ties 72 to the supporting columns 71 by means of hinge pins 58 and 59.This operation may be completed before the, column: 71 is hoisted to the position shown in Fig. 9

and the tiesmay be swung outwardly to a horizontal position andsecur'ed to the central column while the columi1171 isstillheld in position by the derrick 70.

' Duringthis operation'and during the subsequent operation of'lifting the plates forming the tank proper, the -centra1 column is secured against side sway by guys 70 119 which extend downwardly from the top of the central "column to the foundation 15 for the supporting columns.

, As shown in Fig. 10, the derrick 70 is then used to -"hoist the various preformed plates which form the tank f properfinto'jinal p ositionwherein they are welded to each 793th and"to"'the' various" supporting columns 71. In

order to remove the derrick 70 I omit one of the plates forming the bottom of the final tank 10 to leave an opening 11 therein through whith the derrick 70 may be lowered by means of the detached boom 68. The boom 68 is then removed, the missing bottom plate welded into position and the final plate forming the top of the tank is then secured in place to complete the structure.

It will be noted that no guys were used for the derrick which extend beyond the foundation of the completed tank. Thus, by employing my invention it is possible to erect a tank in any location where there is room for the tank alone.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the method, construction and arrangement may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for erecting an elevated column supported tank structure comprising a first mast support and a second mast support, a mast slidably mounted in the supports, means for removably securing each support to a column of the structure, means for securing the mast against sliding movement in the supports, means for sliding each support vertically along the mast while the mast is supported by the other support, mean for sliding the mast vertically through the supports, and hoisting cables rigged on the mast.

2. A device for erecting an elevated column comprising a first mast support and a second mast support, each of said supports having a frame provided with an upright opening extending therethrough, a mast slidably mounted in the supports and extending through said openings, means for removably securing each support to the column, means for securing the mast against sliding movement in the supports, hoisting cables on the mast for alternately sliding each support vertically along the mast while the mast is supported by the other support, and pulley means on one of the supports for sliding the mast vertically through the supports.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,079,663 Rasmussen May 11, 1937 2,355,874 Laird Aug. 15, 1944 2,432,528 Lively Dec. 16, 1947 2,438,542 Cushman Mar. 30, 1948 2,605,540 Kroll Aug. 5, 1952 2,623,643 Seamans Dec. 30, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 423,097 France Feb. 6, 1911 322,099 Great Britain Nov. 28, 1929 OTHER REFERENCES Construction Methods, January 1947, pages 10-12. 

